India experiences different types of seasons throughout the year. The beauty of this temperature and season volatility is that people in India get to enjoy different seasonal produce and cook various dishes out of it. Looking closely at the regional cuisines of India, we will find that every region in India has different types of dishes per season. In summer, people prefer eating more hydrating and light dishes that act as a relief from the scorching heat outside.
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Now that summer has finally arrived, and there is still a long way to go before the monsoon comes, it's the perfect time to experiment with some fresh and hydrating fruits as well as vegetables to make sweet desserts. However, instead of making Western desserts, making some halwa can be a great idea. Here are some tempting halwa recipes inspired by some summer-friendly fruits and vegetables.
* Pumpkin Halwa
Pumpkin is very beneficial for consumption during summer. There are a lot of savoury dishes in Indian cuisine made from pumpkins. Making pumpkin halwa can be an interesting twist to the classic halwa recipe. All that one has to do is take the pumpkin pulp out and properly mash it. Now, one must heat a pan and add a little bit of ghee to it. In this ghee, one should add the pumpkin pulp along with milk, sugar, cardamom powder, dry fruits, and any other ingredient that one would like to add. Let the milk dry and get completely absorbed in the pumpkin pulp. The outcome will be a delicious, luscious and healthy halwa.
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* Beetroot Halwa
Beetroot is a powerhouse of antioxidants and important vitamins. It is naturally sweet and also has a very rich flavour. Other than adding beetroot to summer salads, one can also make a delicious dessert out of it. First, one has to grate some beetroot and then cook it in 2 tablespoons of ghee. Now, in the mixture, one must add milk, jaggery powder, and cardamon and let it cook until it becomes a thick mixture. The halwa will be dark red and can be garnished with some dry fruits just before being served.
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* Mango Halwa
Mangoes are the king of fruits, and summer is the best time to have the choicest mangoes. The availability of mangoes makes summers a lot more tolerable than usual. One of the most delicious ways to enjoy some fresh and juicy mangoes is to make delicious halwa out of it. Take the pulp of mangoes, infuse it in some ghee and add lots of milk. Now, in this ghee and mango mixture, add lots of milk, dry fruits and some cardamom powder. This is going to be a delicious tropical extravaganza. Instead of adding regular milk, one can also add coconut milk, as coconut and mangoes make a decadent combination.
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* Banana Halwa
One of the most significant aspects of making banana halwa is the fact that one doesn't have to use any kind of sweetener to give a sweet flavour to this Halwa. The best type of banana halwa is made by taking overripe bananas that are a little brown as they are extra sweet. These bananas have to be mashed and cooked in a pan for a couple of minutes. Then, one can add heavy cream, a little bit of milk, and aromatic spices like cinnamon powder and cardamom. Slowly keep stirring all the ingredients to mix them properly. Now, add some chopped dry fruits to this mixture and add a nice mix of all the ingredients. If one wants to add an extra sweetener, then adding jaggery powder can be a good idea.
* Pineapple Halwa
Pineapple is a very fresh fruit that has tropical flavours and reminds one of a beautiful beach location. Now, it's impossible to go near the beachside every day. However, one can bring all the feels of a beach at home by making interesting dishes regularly. Pineapple halwa is one such dessert that is going to be liked by everyone in the house irrespective of their age group. Pineapple is naturally sour and sweet, which is great for adding depth to the dessert. One must carefully prick out all the thorns present in the pulp of pineapple. Now mash the pineapple pulp and add in a bit of desi ghee, coconut flakes, milk, and some sugar. Let the mixture cook properly, and add some pistachios on the top just before serving.